Improvement in signal-lanterns



AJ. SHANK. y

k SIGNAL LANTERNS. N o.18'0,658. l Patented Aug.1, 1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

JOSEPH M. SHANK, OF UNION CITY, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SIGNAL-LANT'ERN S.

`Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. l 80,658, dated August 1, 1876; application iiled April 3, 1876.

` To all whom it may concern:

scribe its construction and operation.

I construct a large cylinder with vertical slots on opposite sides, into which I insert colored glass. I make another cylinder having one or more spiral slots, and of the proper size to revolve inside, or may be large enough to revolve outside, of the first cylinder.

The lantern is illustrated more in detail in the plan view, Figure l, showing the lantern with its connection with the driving-pulley O, in which B B show one of the slots into which the colored glass is inserted, A showing a section of the spiral slot of the revolving cylinder as it passes the vertical slot with the co1- ered glass inserted, Fig. 2 showing the revolving cylinder with its connection with the driving-pulley O, the shaft D being firmly attached to the revolving cylinder at F. A A show parts of the spiral slot. Fig. 3 represents the arrangement for holding the light or lights, in which G shows the cap or top of the 1antern, the rod H being firmly attached lto the cap G, the lights L L connected to the rod H. My lantern being attached to the rear end of the train, with the driving-pulley O connected with the axle of the car by means of a belt or otherwise, when the train is in motion, will cause thecylinder having the spiral slot or slots, as the case may be, to revolve.

It will be seen, the lights being in the center, as the cylinder revolves to the right the light will appear to pass from the bottom ot' the lantern to the top, and when turned to the left will appear to move from the top to the bottom, so that it can easily be known the direction the train is running, or Whether it l is stationary.

The advantages of my invention are, that with certainty it can be known the direction a train is moving or Whether stationary, Whereby a collision may be avoided.

What I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy In a signal-lantern, the spirally-slotted cylinder, revolving by suitable means around its axis, in combination with the outer verticallyslotted xed cylinder, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH M. SHANK. Witnesses:

C. L. CARTER, NATHAN WoonBUEY. 

